A LOCAL workers' union has been formed amid a hefty spike in unemployment nationwide.
A Bayside branch of the Australian Unemployment Workers' Union (AUWU) has been launched to assist with the large increase in unemployment in the Redlands.
Bayside/Redlands AUWU secretary Callen Sorensen Karklis said it was extremely troubling to see the extent of how huge the unemployment rate had spiked in the recent week.
"I know many hospitality workers from local sports bars and clubs who are out of work, some of them for the first time in 20 to 30 years of being consistently employed," he said.
With unemployment now increasing many of these people are asking the union for assistance.
Mr Sorensen Karklis said the union was working with the Queensland Council of Unions executive, the state, federal executive of the AUWU as well as officials from others unions across south east Queensland.
"Many of our members and their work peers are concerned how they will make ends meet with such a high demand on Centrelink now, including concerns for financial assistance beyond stimulus packages," he said.
"The band-aid task of just asking people to flood Centrelink isn't what people want to hear, people know it's what they need to do but it isn't enough. People are trying to discuss things with Centrelink - people are becoming stressed anxious and tired," Mr Sorensen Karklis said.
He said he felt more trained staff was needed at Centrelink.
"We've seen many people being placed on hold for days via phone and not being assisted in Centrelink offices after waiting for hours in crowds of people despite COVID-19 warnings. The My Gov website has crashed countless times and the NBN is becoming overused and strained due to a high demand," Mr Sorensen Karklis said.
He said the Queensland Council of Unions and several unionists have been in regular contact with the Bayside union due to the high demand of workers reaching out during these tough times.
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